New parents could receive up to four weeks extra parental leave next year.

Enda Kenny has announced two separate plans to give parents more paid time off after a baby arrives.

He has said an extra two weeks of parental leave, to be split between parents, will be introduced in the next Budget.

The Taoiseach also said plans for paid leave for fathers will be approved by Cabinet next week.

“We’ll roll out the second pre-school year in September for the future,” said Kenny.

“Next week the Cabinet will approve the legislation the provide two weeks paid leave paternity for fathers and our aim is to have that in place by September.”